The Franklin Ethics Commission has found that Alderman Gabrielle Hanson violated two provisions of the city’s ethics code and recommended that she be censured. WPLN reports that the commission found that Hanson used her position as an elected official to attempt to solicit gifts and secure privileges for the African American Heritage Society, violating sections I-805 and I-808 of the Franklin Municipal Code. The hearing stems from an email that Hanson sent in early June to Nashville International Airport (BNA) President Doug Kreulen. Hanson asked the airport to withdraw financial support from a Juneteenth festival put on by the Franklin Justice and Equity Coalition — an organization she characterized as “radical” and anti-police — or send an equal donation to the African American Heritage Society.

For years, dozens of criminal cases in Davidson County were dropped because the person arrested was found not mentally competent to stand trial. Davidson County Judge Melissa Blackburn, who oversees the Mental Health Court, says, "That was happening every single day with anyone deemed incompetent ...” Blackburn’s office found that over an 18-month period, 182 people had been declared not competent to stand trial and two thirds of those were re-arrested within three months. A $600,000 grant from Metro Nashville is helping by funding an incompetency docket and providing additional treatment, NewsChannel 5 reports. Read more about the program.

The TBA House of Delegates has vacancies in several of its districts. In accordance with Article 29 of the TBA Bylaws, if no candidate files a declaration of candidacy for district delegate in a district or if there is no district delegate by reason of death, declination or other cause, the officers of the House of Delegates may fill the vacancy with the term to commence at the time of appointment.

The following seats covering these counties are available: 7th Judicial District (Anderson); 9th Judicial District (Loudon, Meigs, Morgan and Roane); 14th Judicial District (Coffee); 15th Judicial District (Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale and Wilson); 17th Judicial District (Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore); 20th Judicial District (Davidson); 22nd Judicial District (Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne); 23rd Judicial District (Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart); 24th Judicial District (Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Hardin and Henry); 26th Judicial District (Chester, Henderson and Madison); 28th Judicial District (Crockett, Gibson and Haywood).

If you would like to be considered for any of these positions, please fill out this form with your interest by Aug. 11.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection met recently to consider claims from clients alleging financial loss due to the illegal actions of their lawyers. The fund approved nine claims: $1,250 against McMinn County attorney Joseph H. Crabtree Jr.; $16,651.86 against deceased lawyer Wesley Lynn Hatmaker; $1,663.33 against Janet Monique Okoye; $2,750 against Davidson County Philip Joseph Perez; $2,277.15 against Williamson County lawyer Judson Wheeler Phillips; and $748.50 against Shelby County lawyer James Foster Schaeffer Jr. The board also approved three claims brought against Sullivan County lawyer Jason R. McLellan: one in the amount of $67,400.36, one in the amount of $100,000 and one in the amount of $28,885.96. Lawyers are generally required to reimburse the fund for these payments. The Fund for Client Protection was established by the Tennessee Supreme Court to reimburse individuals for losses caused by dishonest conduct by attorneys. The fund is operated by a board, which meets quarterly to consider claims. In September 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court amended Rule 25 to require the fund to notify the Tennessee Bar Association of claims paid. News releases on all actions also are posted on the fund's website.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts will livestream a hearing on a motion for temporary injunction in the Nashville and Davidson County v. Bill Lee "airport case" tomorrow at 1 p.m. CDT. This case is being heard before a three-judge panel in the ground floor jury assembly room of the Metropolitan Nashville Courthouse. Go here for the livestream.

Dyersburg attorney Charles Phillip "Phil" Bivens died July 20 at 71. Bivens worked as an attorney in private practice before taking office as district attorney general for Dyer and Lake counties, a position he held until retirement in 2018. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church, 220 Masonic St., Dyersburg 38024 on Aug. 3 at 3 p.m CDT. Visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to crisis pregnancy centers that support and facilitate adoption.

Nashville lawyer Mason Kirkpatrick “Kirk” Scobey Jr. died July 21 at 81. Scobey was born in Nashville and graduated from George Peabody College in 1964 with a bachelors degree in business administration and from the Nashville School of Law in 1974. After 27 years with Commerce Union Bank and its successors as senior vice president and manager of the Personal Trust Department, Scobey joined Equitable Securities Corporation. He retired in 2012 but continued to serve on the board as vice chairman through the end of 2022. There will be no public or memorial services.  

Metro Human Relations Commission Chair Maryam Abolfazli today filed an ethics complaint against two Metro Employee Benefit Board members, reports the Tennessean. Abolfazli has requested a formal review of Edna Jones and Harold Finch by the city's Ethical Conduct Board for comments they made before voting against expanding coverage for gender-affirming care last month. The complaint argues the two members abused their public positions by discriminating against a certain class of Metro employees. The Metro Employee Benefits Board voted 5-3 last month against covering gender-affirming surgeries for adults as part of the city's health benefits.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended eight attorneys on Monday for failure to pay the annual registration fee; three of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2023 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

Memphis City Councilman Frank Colvett announced today he is dropping out of the race for mayor on the October ballot, the Daily Memphian reports. Colvett, who is a two-term city councilman, did not endorse any of the remaining candidates. His departure from the race leaves 18 contenders on the ballot.